CHANGES OVER TIME IN PERCEPTIONS OF SPECIES VALUE: THE CASE OF AUSTROPOTAMOBIUS PALLIPES IN WALES

CHANGEMENTS DANS LA PERCEPTION DE LA VALEUR D’UNE ESPÈCE : LE CAS D’AUSTROPOTAMOBIUS PALLIPES AU PAYS DE GALLES

Cardiff University, Llysdinam Field Centre, Newbridge-on-Wye, Powys, LD1 6NB, UK. E-Mail: slaterfm@cf.ac.uk

Received: 6 January 2004
Accepted: 18 March 2004

Abstract

The perception of “value” placed on a species, here Austropotamobius pallipes, is related both to its conservation significance as well as economic social and legislative factors. Although the species may have had culinary significance in monastic Britain of the Middle Ages, there is no written record of its presence in Wales until the late eighteenth century. We know that before it was protected by law, it was collected for annual “crayfish feasts” into the twentieth century at a school on the River Usk. The rapid decline in the late twentieth century of this animal with full British and European legislative protection rekindled at least scientific interest in its survival. Currently funding for its survival comes mainly from EU sources.

Résumé

La perception de la “valeur” d’une espèce, ici Austropotamobius pallipes, est liée à la signification de la conservation aussi bien qu’à des facteurs économiques, sociaux et législatifs. Au Pays de Galles s’il existe peu de données historiques sur l’utilisation de cette espèce en tant que ressource alimentaire, la législation établie par l’Union Européenne ainsi que le sévère déclin local ont permis de la revaloriser d’un point de vue scientifique.